Journalists Get
Special Glimpse Inside United States Mint at San
Francisco

As the world prepares for the opening of the
Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China, on
August 8, 2008, United States Mint Director Ed
Moy invited reporters to the United States Mint
at San Francisco, where he introduced the 8-8-08
Double Prosperity Set. This Setof two gold
coins is the second installment of the United
States Mint Celebration Series, meant to provide
special numismatic products for gift-giving
occasions. The new Setfeatures one 24-karat
American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold
Uncirculated Coin and one 22-karat American
Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin.

Director Moy discussed the significance of this
new Setof gold coins, saying, "The
8-8-08 Double Prosperity Setpresents a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for coin
collectors and the general public. The date
8-8-08 (August 8, 2008) occurs only once every
100 years. To mark this occasion, this is also
the first time the United States Mint has paired
two gold coins in custom-designed packaging,
making this Seta unique product for the
Asian-American community."

Following the presentation, Director Moy and
Larry Eckerman, Plant Manager, United States
Mint at San Francisco, led reporters and camera
crews on a special tour of the United States
Mint at San Francisco.

The American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold
Uncirculated Coin contained in this Setis one
of the newly-released fractional weight options
in the expanded American Buffalo Coin Program.
The coin bears the classic portrait of a Native
American in profile on the obverse and the
magnificent American Buffalo, or bison, on the
reverse. Noted American sculptor James Earle
Fraser, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens,
originally designed both images for the
redesigned five-cent coin (nickel) released in
1913.

The American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold
Uncirculated Coin displays Augustus Saint-Gaudens'
enduring full-length figure of Liberty with
flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand
and an olive branch in her left. The coin's
reverse, by Miley Busiek, bears the endearing
image of a male eagle clutching an olive branch
while soaring above a nest containing a female
eagle and her hatchlings.

Both coins in the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set
are legal tender with a nominal face value
designation of $25. But their gold metal content
and artistry make them worth far more.
Inscriptions on the coins include the "W" mint
mark for the United States Mint at West Point,
the date, the fineness and the weight. The coins
are packaged in an attractive hardwood box with
a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Director
Moy.